6 Practical Tips to Plan Your First Solo Trip.

Planning your first solo trip can be a daunting task, exciting as it is. From the best places to travel solo, to where to stay when you are travelling alone, what to pack, and how to prepare, here are practical tips based on my own solo travels.

So you’ve decided to stop waiting for company and take the plunge to travel alone. Fantastic! As you make your first foray into the world of solo travel, your mind must be boggling with questions. Where should you go? How should you break it to your family and friends? Should you book everything in advance? What should you pack? Use these ideas to get started:

1. Where to go on your first solo trip?

Truth be told, the experience of going solo is more important than the destination itself, on your first solo trip. If you’re not used to travelling alone, you’re already stepping out of your comfort zone – so make sure your destination is one that makes you comfortable.

It could be a weekend trip to a place you’ve already been with your family or friends; you know what to expect, you’re familiar with the language, and you can find your way around. It could be a popular tourist destination near where you live; you know the place is used to travellers, and good tourism infrastructure is in place. If you want to stretch your boundaries further, refer to my pick of 7 destinations for solo travellers.

Going solo.

2. How to convince your family?

A common obstacle for first time solo trippers is dealing with travel-weary parents, irrespective of their age! The key to dealing with parents lies in having a sound plan. Saying that you’re going on a trip alone, without knowing the first thing about where you’re going, is sure to set alarm bells. When you break the news, be prepared to answer all their questions – how many days you’re going for, how you plan to get there and back, where you intend to stay, what you intend to do. References of friends or acquaintances who’ve been there before, or who live there, are a huge bonus. Have conviction in your plan, be confident, and promise to stay in touch throughout your trip.

Odd one out in the family? Pick your battles wisely.

3. How to get there and where to stay?

Research is terribly important before the first time you travel alone, if only to boost your confidence. Plan ahead so that you arrive at your destination well before sundown, and book a place to stay at least for the first night, so you’re not left wandering around unfamiliar streets with your luggage. Based on your budget, browse through Booking.com and the B&B and Specialty Lodging tabs on TripAdvisor for your destination, and only consider reviews written by regular contributors. Sacrifice a few extra pennies for transport and accommodation that clearly sound more comfortable and safe.

I prefer to stay in home stays and family-run B&Bs or guesthouses when I travel by myself. Not only is it safer (judging by the reviews, of course), but it also helps acquaint me with the local people, eateries and hangouts. Plus, it’s nice to have a homely place to come back to.

You’re never really alone amid the bounty of nature. But it’s nice to have people to go home to, too.

4. How to pack for your solo trip?

You’re going to be lugging your own luggage the entire trip, so take only a single backpack (the easiest to carry around), and pack it as light as you can. Carry layers, so you can mix and match your clothes without having to carry too many. Pack miniature versions of toiletries and accessories. Avoid carrying valuables as much as possible, so you waste little time fretting about your bag’s safety.

Pack a pepper spray for emergencies, keep a journal to record your travels, and most importantly, keep a good book that can draw your attention away from the awkwardness of eating alone (of which you’ll be doing plenty).

You don’t necessarily have to carry a backpack, as long as you can carry yourself whatever you pack.

5. How to stay in touch?

Staying in touch with your family and friends during your trip is a great way to deal with loneliness while traveling alone. Enable data on your phone or look for accommodations with free Wifi, so you can share your experiences on Twitter and Facebook on the go, which are also good sources for credible recommendations on where to eat and what to do. Make sure at least one person back home is always clued in to your plans; Skype offers cheap calling rates and calling cards are easily available if you’re travelling outside your own country.

Technology has made it easy to stay in touch, wherever you may be.

6. How to stay safe?

While the entire aim of travelling solo is to step out of your comfort zone and discover the world at your own terms, it is important that you remember to trust your gut at all times. Whether an unlikely friendship, an eatery with a questionable sense of hygiene, or an accommodation with a creepy owner – it is better to be safe than sorry. Get out of the situation as quickly as possible, even at the cost of a potential adventure or a hair raising story; you’ll come across plenty as you become a seasoned solo traveller!

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I quit my full-time job in 2011 with a dream of travelling the world. Two years later, I gave up my home, sold most of my possessions and embraced a nomadic life. I'm passionate about going off the beaten path, solo travel, sustainable travel and veganism. Let's connect!

I quit my full-time job in 2011 with a dream of travelling the world. Two years later, I gave up my home, sold most of my possessions and embraced a nomadic life. I'm passionate about going off the beaten path, solo travel, sustainable travel and veganism. Let's connect!

Traveling alone is all about preparation and gaining confidence. But you are tips will be helpful for any one. I am still in a college and when day come for my first solo trip I am sure, I will be remembering your tips.

I am 30 and i havent travelled much ! Though i want to now and being an introvert i am not sure if that’s a good idea , though it excites me to travel solo ,i am just confused about lot of things . What if i get bored ? Where do i stay? and lot many questions.

My book – a national bestseller in India!

ABOUT ME

Hello! I'm Shivya Nath. In 2011, at age 23, I quit my corporate job with a dream of traveling the globe. 2 years later, I packed up my life into a backpack and decided to hit the road indefinitely. I travel slow, seek offbeat and local experiences, stay in a place for a few weeks or as long as it inspires me, and move on.

I've done a solo land journey from Thailand to India via Myanmar and travelled overland from the Persian Gulf via Iran to Armenia. I've lived with a Mayan community in Guatemala, volunteered at a coral reef restoration project in Cuba, lived in a nunnery in Ladakh (India), and shed my fears and clothes at onsens across Japan. I hope to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and experience the world!